"Be cautious," Kain warned the group. "The Hylden want this world back... at any cost."
The Hylden lived up to their reputation. The vampires were attacked at every turn. The further down they went the more it began to look like an Hylden city. There were slaves. Some Esie recognized. The slaves helped the vampires access areas of the city that they couldn't. The slaves also told the vampires were the gate was. Soon they were deep in the Hylden city.
Kain was impressed with Esie. She used her crossbow with such accuracy that when Kain could not hit targets with his telekinesis, Esie could take them out. She had never complained of discomfort when she was still a human, and now she took to her new form as if she had lived in it for years.
Raziel had been more quiet than usual. He had been falling behind here and there, studding the strange writings and drawings that appeared periodically. Finally he spoke to Kain.
"You said that they only way the Hylden could get here was through a gate. I think I know how to destroy it." Raziel said. "Unfortunately, it will destroy a good portion of the world above us. Look here."
Raziel pointed to a large diagram in the current room they were in. At first Kain did not understand, what Raziel meant, then he saw it. The lines of power criss crossed in the Neiblebald Mountains. The same mountains that the vampires had difficulty using their dark gifts on.
"If we block the power here." Raziel pointed to a junction not far from where they were now. "It will make the power build up here. The gate will explode."
Kain looked over his shoulder at Turel and Esie. Turel was describing a fight with some Vampire Hunters. Kain turned back to the diagram. "Her town would be destroyed." Kain said.
"Esie, come here." Kain had Raziel explain the problem to her.
"We have to destroy thousands of my people." Esie said quietly.
"They are not your people any more." Kain said dryly.
Esie did not respond. She looked at the diagram frantically, as if she was trying to find another solution.
"We have to move." Turel said. "The Hylden are coming."
They went into the next room and found an crypt where the Hylden were carrying out their experiments. Kain had seen their handiwork before. Raziel gasped. Turel said nothing, but disgust filled his face. Esie cried.
"These are the creatures that my brother wants for allies." She said. She stepped over an eviscerated body. "They must of paid him a great deal."
"We must get to that junction box." Raziel said.
They continued on. Further below they found a command center. The air was very humid and wet. Allowing the vampires to use mist to sneak into the center of the city. Kain looked around, this city had been built quickly. It was as if they were making up for lost time. Kain stifled a dark laugh. The Hylden were imprisoned in a demon dimension, all they had was time.
They had made it almost to the junction. Kain knew how his lieutenants were advancing. Turel as usual was enjoying the bloodshed. Raziel was stepping back and thinking. He always used his head. It was Esie that again surprised Kain. Barely a day old, for a vampire, and she seemed to understand Kain's unspoken commands. But as they got closer to the junction, she began to falter. It was not hard to figure out why. She was worried about what had to be done. Deep inside, she was having a moral conflict. Kain hoped she made the right choice when the time came. He would like to invite her to the Sanctuary.
"They are heading for this control center." A underling Hylden reported.
It was the large Hylden who responded. "Then make sure they do not get here."
Kain could not resist. "Too late." he said, announcing their presence.
The two Hyldens turned in surprise. The underling was easy to dispatch with. Turel attacked the Hylden before Kain or Raziel could. The larger Hylden laughed.
"So you are Kain." I was expecting someone fiercer. I see you need assistance." The Hylden taunted.
"At least I do not deceive humans. They know what I truly am." Kain pointed.
"Ah, yes. Lowell's sister. Amazing what fear can do to a person. How someone can use that fear to get what they want." The Hylden chuckled. "Oh well, lets get this over with."
It flipped a switch and a small portal opened up. Kain nodded to Turel and Raziel to stop the Hylden guards that were coming through. Esie stood back not sure what to do. Kain went after the leader. Esie would fire the cross bow and weaken the attackers. Turel and Raziel would finish them off. Kain was impressed with the Hylden leader, but could not get the fatal blow in. The fight seemed to be a stand off.
Raziel shouted to Esie. "Find the control."
Esie lowered her crossbow in despair. Then nodded. The Hylden leader turned away from Kain suddenly and went after Esie.
"Do not touch that switch." He ordered Esie.
Esie's hand hesitated. Glyph gates went up around Kain and his lieutenants.
"See Kain, she still thinks like a human. She knows what that switch will do. Weak race. They need our ruling hand." The Hylden leader laughed.
Esie looked up at the Hylden, "Are you sure about that?" She turned the switch.
The Hylden leader yelled in frustration. The command center began to shake. The gate sputtered and finally blew apart. The glyph gates died. In the lower part of the mine explosions were starting to ripple through out. Turel grabbed Esie and the vampires teleported out of the mine.